The English opener Zak Crawley has indicated he had no knowledge of comments from skipper Ben Stokes regarding the dressing room not being "weak men".
The all-rounder delivered this message in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second match of the Ashes series versus Australia previously.
Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his message to "circulate freely" within the squad.
"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I required," said the England leader.
But, after the opener scored a knock of 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.
Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after England were beaten in Brisbane to go two matches behind.
The England squad subsequently took a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and third Tests.
Before the Adelaide contest, Stokes said his team had held "honest" talks and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay in contention in the series.
Nevertheless, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum had remained in line with their prior tenure in charge.
"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, the same as always," noted Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, playing our brand, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of something special entering this Test."
Australia On the Verge of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a decisive three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – left the chasing side 207-6 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
This means, the home team require just four more wickets on the final day to secure an insurmountable three-nil lead with three matches played.
A loss will extend the English team's drought in this country to 18 Tests and ensure a fourth successive away Ashes defeat.
The current battle will be completed in just eleven days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in two and four days each.
Not since 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. Australia have also won in eleven days on two other instances in the modern era.
"It's disappointing," said Crawley. "Our goal was to win the Ashes and we're staring down the barrel at this point."
"There remains significant pride at stake and we will certainly approach it with that mindset," he continued.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a very, very good side. It was inevitably hard coming here against them. They were the front-runners coming in to it they've proven why."
Pope's Place In Question
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers doubts about his short-term future in the England team, Pope looks under immense pressure for his spot in the fourth Test on Boxing Day.
Pope was out for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, adding to his modest returns versus the old enemy.
In 16 Ashes innings, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.
Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has played an equal number of innings in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion his teammate is being scrutinised originates with "the media" – referring to the press – "not inside the camp."
"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."
"He has produced several excellent innings. This is talk externally. There is no chat of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.
